Hamilton lacrosse edges Utica |on Leanos’ game-winner in OT

Jon Leanos scored on an assist from Luke Sadoff with 23 seconds left in overtime as Hamilton College edged Utica College 12-11 in the Contineer Cup lacrosse game Wednesday at Hamilton’s Steuben Field.

Hamilton leads the all-time series 12-1, but five of the last seven have been decided by two goals or fewer. The Continentals (9-5), winners of eight of their last nine, will play in the NESCAC playoffs Saturday at Trinity. UC (8-7) still has a chance to make the Empire 8 playoffs.

John Pitarresi

Jon Leanos scored on an assist from Luke Sadoff with 23 seconds left in overtime as Hamilton College edged Utica College 12-11 in the Contineer Cup lacrosse game Wednesday at Hamilton’s Steuben Field.

Hamilton leads the all-time series 12-1, but five of the last seven have been decided by two goals or fewer. The Continentals (9-5), winners of eight of their last nine, will play in the NESCAC playoffs Saturday at Trinity. UC (8-7) still has a chance to make the Empire 8 playoffs.

Henry Burchenal scored four goals, including one for a 6-5 lead with just 1 second left before halftime, to lead Hamilton, and Max Vaickus made 20 saves. Trent Thomas scored six goals for UC, and Joe Davis made 20 saves.

Hamilton led by two goals three times in the second half, but the Pioneers came back to tie each time, the last on Justin Edelstein’s goal with 2:34 to go in regulation. Leanos then ended it near the end of the 4-minute overtime.

“The biggest thing is we show resiliency,” said Hamilton coach Scott Barnard, whose team is 4-3 in one-goal games and has won two others by two. “We kind of hang in there all year long. The kids played hard for 60 minutes. UC did a nice job, too. Now we’re excited to have another chance to play another weekend of lacrosse.”

UC has a chance to extend its season as well. If the Pioneers win Saturday at St. John Fisher, they’re in the E8 tournament.

“It’s a playoff game,” UC coach Mike Parnell said. “The team that wins moves on. To be in that situation at the end of the season, that’s all you can ask for. I think we are peaking at the right time. We played hard for 60 minutes. Hamilton is a very talented team that has beaten three top 20 teams. We’re playing well.”